“Ecco!—I have marked some passages with double
readings—choose between them—cut—add—reject—or destroy—do with them as you will—I leave it to you and the Committee—you cannot
say so called ‘a non committendo.’ What will they do (and I do) with the hundred and one rejected
Troubadours? ‘With trumpets, yea, and with shawms,’ will you be assailed in
the most diabolical doggerel. I wish my name not to transpire till the day is decided. I
shall not be in town, so it won’t much matter; but let us have a good deliverer. I think Elliston
should be the man, or Pope; not Raymond, I implore you, by the love of Rhythmus!

The passages marked thus == ==, above and below, are for you to
choose between epithets, and such like poetical furniture. Pray, write me a line, and
believe me ever, &c.

“My best remembrances to Lady
H. Will you be good enough to decide between the various readings marked,
and erase the other; or our deliverer may be as puzzled as a
commentator, and belike repeat both. If these versicles
won’t do, I will hammer out some more endecasyllables.

“P.S. Tell Lady H. I have had sad
work to keep out the Phœnix—I mean the Fire-Office of that name. It has insured the
theatre, and why not the Address?”

Elizabeth Fox, Lady Holland [née Vassall] (1771 c.-1845)
In 1797 married Henry Richard Fox, Lord Holland, following her divorce from Sir Godfrey
Webster; as mistress of Holland House she became a pillar of Whig society.

Henry Richard Fox, third baron Holland (1773-1840)
Whig politician and literary patron; Holland House was for many years the meeting place
for reform-minded politicians and writers. He also published translations from the Spanish
and Italian; Memoirs of the Whig Party was published in 1852.

Alexander Pope (1763-1835)
Irish-born actor and miniature-painter who performed at Drury Lane and Covent Garden and
exhibited at the Royal Academy.

James Grant Raymond (1771-1817)
Originally Grant; actor and manager of Drury Lane Theater, and biographer of the Irish
poet Thomas Dermody.